Baptist Settlement

Bexar County, TX

Status: Located

Year Established: 1871

Council of Governments: AACOG

Public History: Founded in 1871 by twenty-two newly freed slaves and a white minister thought to be a missionary named Rev. J. P. Hines, Mt. Zion Baptist, a modest one-room church located on Santos Street in what was then known as the Baptist Settlement, has proven to be a stalwart of the Christian faith since its humble beginning. The first Pastor was Rev. Nat Shelton. Initially, the church was a one-room structure. In 1879, Mount Zion was renovated. Records of the church indicate that Mount Zion was the heart of the Baptist Settlement, providing not only spiritual guidance, but also serving as the social center of the settlement (Mason 1998). The church remained at the Santos Street location until 1925 (or 1927, according to Salas 2004).

Community History: There are no current community descriptions of Baptist Settlement. Please consider sharing your own knowledge of the community with us.

Church: Mount Zion Baptist Chuch, New Light Free Mission Baptist Church